Nobody wants to imagine themselves in any situation of danger, but in a world where there are all kinds of misfortunes, a carjacking is likely to happen to you at if you use private or public means of transportation.
While most incidents of carjacking in Kenya are targeted at wealthy and middle-class Kenyans who have an established routine, carjackers have also been known to carjack PSVs or matatus. Crimes such as these are far more likely to happen at night.
Although these attacks are often violent, victims are generally not injured if they do not resist. However, victims are sometimes tied up and put in the back seat or trunk of their own car.
Here are some tips on how to survive a carjacking incident, should you find yourself in one:
Cooperate with the carjackers especially if they are armed
Criminals who commit these crimes will not hesitate to shoot a victim who is the least bit uncooperative or who may appear to hesitate before complying with their assailant.
Be calm and honest/polite to them
Keeping your cool while becoming the victim of any crime is, of course, easier said than done, but keeping your composure is vital in the event of a carjacking.
In order to decrease the likelihood of the situation escalating, make it clear at every opportunity that you are not resisting the carjacker’s wishes and will not fight.
Never lie about your M-Pesa pin
If the carjackers require your M-Pesa pin, don’t lie to them or tell them that you don’t remember it, as this will only make them angry and could make them harm you.
Here is how to minimize huge losses in the case of a carjacking incident:
Minimize carrying lots of money in your car
If you routinely arrive home late in the night and leave early in the morning, always ensure that you do not have bundles of cash in your car. It is always better to have just enough for your daily maintenance.
Avoid having all of your ATM Cards.
It is dangerous to have all your ATM cards with you as this could make the carjackers take you around withdrawing cash.
It is safer to have just one ATM card with the least amount of money on it such as 20,000 shillings.
Avoid fueling full tank
If you aren’t travelling too far with your car, always avoid filling your tank to the full. This is because in case of a carjacking, the more the fuel the higher the chances of losing your car and being dumped in a far off place.
Remove all bank apps on your phone
If you travel a lot at night, avoid having banking apps on your mobile phone because this will lead to some serious losses financially if the carjackers find out you have them on your phone.
This article was inspired by Benson Muigai and Wangui Mbiriti.
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